SPAIN ON SUPPORT FOR MALI AND COMMUNITY OF

UNCLAS MADRID 001935 SIPDIS SIPDIS G FOR JOAQUIN FERRAO DRL/MLGA FOR GIANNI PAZ E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV SP SUBJECT: SPAIN ON SUPPORT FOR MALI AND COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES REF: STATE 129764 ¶1. (U) Poloff spoke with Juan Manuel Linares, Spanish Deputy Director General for the United Nations, October 2 about Spanish support for the Community of Democracies and specifically for Mali's effort to organize a successful Ministerial meeting in November. Linares said that of course Spain is a strong supporter of and has participated in the Community of Democracies since the first conference organized by Secretary Albright in Praque. Linares said Spain will do what it can to support Mali's effort with the Ministerial, as Mali is an important Spanish neighbor and potential leader in Africa. Linares noted, however, that Spain has only just opened its embassy in Bamako and currently has only one diplomat in Mali, such that Spain could provide little in the way of logistical support. Linares was still waiting for a readout of Mali's October 1 meeting in New York on the program and agenda, but he undertook to discuss the issue further with the Embassy going forward. ¶2. (U) On Spanish support for the UN Democracy Fund, Linares noted that Spain contributed USD one million in 2006, USD 1.3 million in 2007 and will give more in 2008. LLORENS